Tire for the wheels of road-vehicles.



No. 888,214. PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

J. V. E. A. YBEETY E. MEIGO TIEE EOE THE WHEEL ROAD VEHI s.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA G 9,1906.

JEAN VINCENT EEANors AMABLE YBERTY AND EMILE BAPTISTE MRIGOUX, OF ROYAT- LES-BAINS, FRANCE.

TIRE FOR TE WHEELS OF ROAD-VEHICLES.

France, residing at Royat-les-Bains, France, v

have invented new and useful Improvements in Tires for the Wheels 'of Road-Vehicles of All Kinds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tires for use in connection with the wheels of road vehicles.

The invention consists in a composite tire wherein a continuous tread portionisformed by elements included in the construction and wherein aportion ofthe tread is composed of a plurality of elastic units disposed loosely upon the rim of the Wheel and adapted to be held in lace by blocks, preferably dispose/d at the abutting junctures of the units. The disposition of said units and blocks is such that the strain imposed upon the blocks is uniformly distributed on the units and to this vend means are provided for loosely connecting said blocks with the wheel rim in such a manner as to permit inward radial movement of said blocks, when the units yield and prevent outward movement of said blocks beyond a predetermined point.

The invention has other objects and novel features which will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and will be more particularl pointed out and ascertained in and by t e appended claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1, is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a tire embodying the features of our invention. Fig. 2, is a similar view showing a slightly modified Jform of the invention. Fig. 3, is asectionalview on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4, isasectional viewon line4-4 ofFi 1. Fig. 5, is atransverse sectional view oi a modified form of my invention. Figs. 6, 7I and 8, show further modifications and transversesections. Fig. 9, is a plan view of an improved spacing tread block. Fig. 10, is a transverse sectional view-"of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 11, is a sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig.'10. Fi 12, is asectional View and Fig. 13, is an e evation of an` improved form of tread block.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led August 9, 1906.

port .nel-l1 e cross sectlon.

Patented May 19j, 1908.

Serial No. 329,907.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

The elastic units shown are of different forms, that which is shown in Fi 1 and designated by a being substantia ly hexagonal and having three transversely disposed openings b to increase its yielding action. The form of unit a shown in Fig. 2 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig.

1 except for the opening b whichy is enlarged, there being but one opening. In the I form shown in Fig. 5 circular units are shown and the same are formed of rubber or other suitable yielding material as is the case in the constructions shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In

Fig. 5 the' units az are provided with a single o ening b2. InFig. 6 the unit a3 is formed o any suitable yie ing metal. In Fig. 7 a spring c is provided to take up a portion of t e compressive strain and in Fig. 8 a metal spring c is inserted in the opening of the unit a4 to strengthen the saine and said springs c and c are bowed inwardly and over-lap ed respectively so as to increase their,y1e ding action.

Next referring to Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 9, which forms illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, p designates therim of the wheel which as shown is provided with a supshown' as having a U-shaped or chan- Said support g is provided with openings i, preferab y in the form ofA slots, through which support bolts h project. The units a are apart from each other w e n seated in the support g and the openings t are disposed 1n a manner to register with the spaces formed between said units as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Said units a may engage the bolts h but it `will be understood that this is not essential as it is not necessary to rely wholly upon the bolts h or to place any reliance thereon to maintain the units a in position. In order to prevent displacement of the units a, in case arts hereinafter to be described become roken, means are provided preferably in the form of tire-bolts e which as shown in Fig. 4 extend through openings in the suport g in which they are lmmovably secured. n order to afford engagement between the bolts e and the units oJ the` openings b n the as it is not the function of the bolts eto sus-A tain any stress. ln order to fully relieve bolts e from any strain the latter are dis osed in such a manner'as to engage only the ower portions of the openings b so as to permit the units a to freely expand and be contracted without in any way straining said bolts.

A continuous tread portion is provided for' the tire and is formed, partly by the units a. and partly by blocks ff which engage the units a and close the peripheral spaces formed therebetween, in constructionsY where the units are spaced a art from cach other. Preferably the bloc s f are constructed in such a manner as to equalize the distribution of strain on said units and in the preferred form this object is attained by making the blocks f wedge-shaped and providing units c with correspondingly iormod wedge-shaped engaging portions at Said wedge-sha ed blocks engage and hold said units in p ace and in the preferred form said blocks extend slightly beyond the periphery of the units so thatl the major portion of' wear is taken up by said blocks. If desired said blocks may be made in the i'orm shown in Figs. 12 and 13 wherein the lower lace of the block is 'Ilat and rests u on the peripheral surface of the units when t 1e same are not provided with wedgeshaped engaging portions. In order to provide effective means for )reventing lateral dis lacement of the units the blocks f are pro-l vi ed with laterally disposedunit engaging portions m. Where it 1sdesirable that the tread of the wheel should consist as far as possible of rubber or like material of a high tractive eiiieiency the blocks f may be recessed and a separate tread plate n may be disposed in said recess so that 1t can easily be renewed when worn. Said tread plate n' may be if desired formed of rubber or it ma be oi' metal in which latter case its outer sur' 'ace wouldbe roulghened yor corrugated. A convenient manner of securing said plates fn, is shown in Figs. 1 and 9 wherein the recess in the block f is dove-tailed and wherein keys in the form of screws o are provided to prevent said plates from being displaced longitudinally.

Means are provided i'or holding said blocks f in engagement with said units e and said.l

means serve to permit inward movement of said blockswhen the units yield under the imposition ofipressure on said blocks and prevent outwar( movement of said blocks beond a redetermined point. As shown said locks jp are positively connected wi th the rim p and to this end radially dis osed rim bolts are provided which extend t irough said rim and support 'g where they are connected with essere support bolts h. Links gare provided for sau4 slotted to receive t 1e support bolts h. The

yrim bolts j are provided with nuts 7c which may beeither in the form shown in Figs. 1 or 2 and which permit of adjustment of said bolts.l a i f lt will be seen by reference to Fig. 3 that the im roved connection shown wholly sustains t 1e strain resulting from expansion of the units a and the maintenance of the blocks f in engagement therewith as the bolts h do not engage the outer ends of the slots i. lhese slots 'i are primarily for the purpose of' permitting adjustment of the bolts h so that when the units L become worn the bolts may be taken up to adjust the blocks inwardly and such adj ustmcnt also permits of the use of' units of' dill'erent depths on a single rim. When the blocks f are forced inwardly the slots in the links q permit inward movement of saidl blocks without in any way affecting the bolts y' and when said blocks are restored to their normal position the looped ends of the links g engage the bolts h and prevent outward radial movement of the blocks f beyond a predetermined point. l Said links g, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, are removablyv secured to blocks and in Figs. 2, 5, 6, 12 and 13 the links g are formed integral with said locks. ln either, construction we prefer to )lace the bolts y' between the links as shown 1n Fig. 3. Une manner of removably securing the links g to the blocks f is'shown in JFigs. 1, 3 and 9 wherein theblocksgt are hollow and are provided with a longitu inally disposed slot aving a relatively enlarged entering portion 1' and relatively reduced retaining portions r. The links g are rovided withiheads g2 which are adapted to e inserted through said entering portion r and moved laterally in the blocks ya abreast'of the retaining portions r where y they are revented from being withdrawn from the blldcksf.

in Figs. 10 and 11 the base portions of the units are formed with a concave recess s and the supports are provided with lateral channels g so that when' the units a are subjected to an excessive pressure they are permitted to flatten and expand laterally intov said channels. llf desired springs c2 may be interblocks f and referably said links are posed between said units and their supports.

.wedge shaped block's interposed between said units and forming therewith a continuous tread, block links loosely secured to sai blocks and having slotted ends connected with said support bolts, and rim bolts connecting said support bolts with said rim.

2. In combination, a wheel rim, a tire support therefor of U shaped cross section provided with bolt holes, a tire composed of a plurality of distinct elastic units spaced apart from each other and provided with openings and wedge shaped engaging portions, tire bolts extending through said openings in said units and said support, said support being provided with slots, support bolts extending through said slots between said units, hollow wedge shaped blocks engaging said wedge shaped portions and forming with said units a continuous tread, said blocks being slotted to provide entering and retaining portions, headed block links adapted to be inserted in said entering portion and .moved laterally therein to effect engagement between the heads thereof and said retaining portions, said block links having slotted ends connected With support bolts, and rim bolts connecting said support bolts with said rini. 'l

3. In combination, a wheel rim, a tire support therefor provided with bolt slots, a tire composed of a plurality of distinct elastic units spaced apart from each other and provided with openings and wedge shaped engaging portions, supportl bolts extending through said slots between said units, hollow wedge shaped blocks engaging said wedge shaped portions and forming with said units a continuous tread, said blocks being slotted to provide entering and retaining portions, headed block links adapted to be inserted in said entering portion and moved laterally therein to effect engagement between said units spaced apart from each other, wedge blocks forming with said units a continuous tread, block links connected with said blocks and provided with slotted ends, sup ort bolts extending through the slotted en s of said links and through the slots of said support and between said units, and rim bolts connecting with said support bolts and said mm.

5. In combination, a wheel rim, ya tire support therefor, a tire composed of a plurality of distinct elastic units s aced apart from each other, wedge blocks orming with said units a continuous tread, block links connected with said blocks and loosely connected with said su port, and means for connecting said block inks with said rim.

n testimony whereof we have afIiXed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JEAN VINCENT FRANCOIS AMABLE YBERTY. EMILE BAPTISTE MRIGOUX.

Witnesses:

PAUL CHEVARY, PRosPER GUYOT. 

